meandering, markets, Melbourne, too many cookbooks, food writers, food blogs, way too much chocolate and a handful of recipes

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Mecca Bah Restaurant Review

I'd never actually visited the Docklands area before, so when Figman needed to check out a venue I suggested we all head out for an early lunch at Mecca Bah. We mostly skipped breakfast and therefore managed to arrive shortly before 12 on a breezy Sunday morning.

Mecca Bah does not take reservations, hence the reconnaissance trip. We were hoping to "persuade" a manager into allowing a small booking for a festive lunch. Yes, that was likely to be successful ....

I had had a hankering for bastilla and above is a picture of , well, a half bastilla (I couldn't wait!). It was very soft, with tender shredded chicken and I adore the traditional sprinkling of icing sugar on these pastries.

The spicy lamb and pine nut bourek was the surprise hit. I mean, lamb wrapped in pastry is always going to be good, but the pine nuts took it to another level. I no longer have a hankering for bastilla. Instead, I am plotting how soon I can get back to Mecca Bah and scoff some more of these!

The fattoush was not successful. The dressing was too sour to be palatable and this bowl was almost as full when we left the restaurant. The service was also a bit haphazard and unfocussed, with different staff serving the table and all the dishes arriving at once, resulting in half being cold when eaten.

I ordered mostly from the mezze section of the menu, with a couple of Turkish pizzas thrown in. (Query - if they are Turkish, then is it accurate to describe them as pizze in the plural? Semantics.) It would have been more balanced to try a tagine and something from the grill, but I couldn't decide between the spicy chicken pizza with thick slices of eggplantand the pumpkin pizza with feta and rocket. So we had both and they were tasty and filling (so filling that we couldn't manage dessert!).

Above is the view from our table. It was excellent for keeping a small child entertained, as he not only had other diners to look at, but boats, birds and the occasional dog on the jetty. We had no trouble getting a prime seat for the lunch sitting but the restaurant filled up quickly. I can understand why they might like a "no reservations" policy, but it's frustrating for occasions when it simply won't do to be told to go away and eat an ice cream for an hour until a table is free. Even the offer of a substantial deposit failed to sway the staff and so the search began for another venue.

But if you're at a loose end or up early, Mecca Bah is a great casual dining spot amongst the plethera of Docklands restaurants.

6 Comments:

Yes, those bureks are excellent, and I agree about the icing sugar on the others - surprise hit!Have you ever been to Zum Zum on Rathdown Street, North Carlton? Also really very excellent Lebanese food, at cheaper prices.

gotta agree with everyone here, the pine nuts were great with the lamb bureks. he chi. The service left a lot to be desired..what is it with waiters/waitresses at swanky places thinking we're not good enough for them?